GREECE has lashed out at Turkey over claims more than 100,000 migrants, mostly from Syria, had already crossed the border into Europe by yesterday. Greece described the claims as "entirely false".

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It comes as Greek soldiers today begin a military exercise with live ammunition in a bid to discourage migrants from attempting to cross into Europe from Turkey, as the escalating crisis threatens to boil over. Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said as of yesterday evening, the number of migrants leaving his country, where Syrians have been taking refuge from the war which has torn their own apart, was 100,577.

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Numbers cited by Turkish authorities are entirely false and misleading

Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

However, a tweet by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs hit back, insisting: “No one can cross the Greek borders.

“All those attempting illegal entry, are effectively prevented from entering.

“Numbers cited by Turkish authorities are entirely false and misleading.”

An irregular migrant throws back gas canister in response to Greek security forces near the border (Image: GETTY)

Migrants waiting on the Turkish side of the border (Image: GETTY)

Greek police yesterday fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.

The decision to authorise Greek soldiers to begin exercising with live rounds on the island of Lesbos is a clear indication of Athens’ determination to secure its border with its neighbour and traditional rival.

Athens-based journalist Liana Spyropoulou tweeted: “The Greek Army just announced that they are going to start TODAY a military exercise with REAL FIRE in #Lesvos from Kratigos (near the airport) up to Eftalou.

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In a second straight day of clashes at the border crossing near the northeastern Greek town of Kastanies, video footage also appeared to show tear gas being fired from the Turkish side of the border at the Greek riot police.

The change of tack follows an air strike which killed 33 Turkish soldiers in its neighbour Syria, and is on the face of it an effort to press for more EU support in tackling the refugee crisis from Syria’s civil war.

An automated text message sent to mobile phones in the northern border areas of Greece said the country had increased its security to a maximum, warning people not to attempt to enter.

Greece’s Skai TV said Greeks were using loudspeakers in the Kastanies border area to tell migrants, in English and Arabic, they were not welcome, announcing: “The Borders are Shut!”

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Image: GETTY)

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Greece was the main gateway for hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers into Europe in 2015-16. More than 40,000 migrants are stuck on the various Aegean islands, living in severely overcrowded camps and filthy conditions.

A Greek government source put the number of people gathered on the Turkish side of the border on Sunday at 3,000, while the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimated the number at 13,000.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia on Thursday for a one-day trip, the Turkish presidency said on Monday, amid tensions between Ankara and Moscow over escalating clashes with Syrian government forces in Syria’s northwestern Idlib region.

Mr Erdogan had been expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin after 33 Turkish troops were killed in Syrian air strikes in Idlib last week, prompting Turkey to launch a counter offensive against Russia-backed Syrian government forces in the region.